Grape Juice (By the Border, #1) ✓

6

Hindi ko talaga alam kung ano ang dapat kong asahan.

Upon passing Station 12, my patience had worn thin. "Seryoso kasi, saan ba tayo pupunta?"

Novah laughed. He just laughed at me. "Mag-relax ka lang d'yan, Wes. We'll get there."

Halos magpakain na ako sa akin kinauupuan para maiwasan lang ang mga mata niyang nakapokus sa akin. Bakit ba siya tingin nang tingin? "This is a dumb idea. Bumaba nalang tayo sa susunod na station." I picked on the gray surface of my metro card until my thumb turned a vibrant crimson.

"It's an expensive ride, I know," Novah said. "Babayaran kita mamaya, don't worry."

"'Wag ka nang maabala." Aaminin ko, maganda kung gan'on. Hindi ako lumalampas sa sampung station sa iisang araw dahil hindi kaya ng budget ko ang transportation fee. The fare tended to get costly. Hindi na ako magugulat kung i-sa-scan ko ang card ko mamaya at invalid ang magpapakita sa screen. Umaasa nalang akong may dalang pera ang kasama ko.

Naglabas ako ng earphones at nagpatugtog ng musika para labanan ang ingay ng tren habang dumaraan ito sa riles sa ilalim. My eyes fluttered shut from exhaustion, and the last thing that caught my line of vision was Novah.

Bumagal na ang takbo ng sasakyan nang magising ako, at mula rito ay nakita ko ang plataporma ng Station 4. It was only a couple of feet away. Beside me, Novah fixed his messenger bag's strap and slung it over his shoulder. "Gising ka na, Wes? Good. We're here," bulong niya sa 'kin bago tumayo. Pinalipas ko ang ilang segundo bago ako sumunod.

We were met with a warm breeze, but I couldn't savor it for long. Biglang hinarang ni Novah ang senaryo at pinalitan ito ng matamis niyang ngiti.

"May tanong ako sayo. Dalawa lang naman," aniya. "Are you afraid of the dead?"

Mabagal akong umiling. Novah smiled and nodded, like I said the correct answer.

"Okay. Have you climbed hills before?"

Muntik ko na siyang mairapan. "Hindi pa. And I hate the sound of that."

Lumawak lalo ang ngiti niya. I must've said the correct answer again. O baka nalilibang lang siya sa akin dahil nagpapauto ako sa kaniya. "Then allow me to apologize in advance."

I would punch him in the face if it wouldn't require a lot of my dwindling energy. Time was unpredictable as we walked below the hills lining the landscape, and by the time we reached the good spot above, the sun's hue had changed and multiplied, bursting into pinks and purples. Isang senaryong nagpapasalamat ako at hindi na hinarangan pa ng kasama ko.

Ginala ko ang tingin at napatigil sa paglakad. Upon seeing flat, upright stones littered with green, devoured by nature through time, I struggled to find the right words to say. "Hey, those are..."

"Graves," pagkumpirma ni Novah habang ibinababa ang kaniyang bag sa lupang walang bahid ng damo. "Tahimik dito. Magandang pagtambayan."

I reluctantly sat down, and Novah did the same after kicking away a few stray rocks. "Obviously," bulong ko sa sarili, pero mukhang narinig niya 'yon.

Hindi ako nababahala sa mga patay. Their bodies were all empty vessels; no senses, no consciousness, no will to live. Oddly enough, the thought calmed my nerves. Wala akong rason para matakot, ngunit naiintindihan ko rin kung bakit naisipan ni Novah na magtanong.

I felt him nudge my shoulder. Nilingon ko siya at pinanood na iwinawagaway ang buhat niyang puting plastic bag. He flaunted an excited grin. "Gusto mo ng meryenda?"

Gods. "May potato chips ba?"

He took out a large bag of chips and put it on my lap. "Meron, siyempre." He began eating his share of junk—a smaller bag of onion rings and nachos—and sighed contentedly. "This is nice, right? No one really goes here anymore, kaya iniisip ko nalang na hideout spot ko 'to."